Matthias wants to dissolve a solid sample of calcium chloride (CaCl2), which is an ionic compound.
Which solvent will dissolve the sample of calcium chloride?
liquid mercury
solid copper
hexane, a nonpolar solvent
water, a polar solvent
To determine which solvent will dissolve the sample of calcium chloride (CaCl2), we need to consider the nature of the solute and the solvent.
Calcium chloride (CaCl2) is an ionic compound composed of calcium ions (Ca2+) and chloride ions (Cl-). Ionic compounds dissociate into ions when dissolved in a solvent.
Solvents can be classified into two main types: polar and nonpolar.
A polar solvent, such as water (H2O), has a partial positive charge on one end (the hydrogen side) and a partial negative charge on the other end (the oxygen side). This polarity allows water molecules to attract and interact with ions, making them effective solvents for many ionic compounds.
On the other hand, a nonpolar solvent, such as hexane (C6H14), lacks a permanent dipole moment and does not have positive and negative ends. Nonpolar solvents do not effectively dissolve ionic compounds because they cannot form the necessary electrostatic interactions with the ions.
Therefore, the solvent that is most likely to dissolve the sample of calcium chloride is water (a polar solvent) because it can effectively interact with the calcium ions (Ca2+) and chloride ions (Cl-) present in the calcium chloride compound.
Water, a polar solvent, will dissolve the sample of calcium chloride (CaCl2).
From Google:
CaCl2 dissolves readily in water, so it won't need any special coaxing to dissolve; be forewarned, however, that it releases heat in the process, so the container will heat up as the compound dissolves. Measure out the amount of calcium chloride you would like to dissolve using the spoon. Add water to the container.